Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Alienist

Alienist

“Are you an alienist?” (pg. 11)

An alienist is defined as a doctor who is accepted by a court as an expert on mental capability and competence who is called on to testify as to the sanity of a defendant. It makes sense for Marlow to ask the doctor this question because it would be the responsibility of the doctor to make sure that Marlow wasn’t crazy before he left for the Congo.